Automatic radio switching system



June, 5, 1928.

J. B. HOGE ET AL AUTOMATIC RADIO SWITCHING SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 8. 1922 Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES 3. EDGE, OI CLEVELAND, OHIO, AND EDWARD E. CLEMENT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 'ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO EDWARD I. COLLADAY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AUTOMATIC RADIO SWITCHING SYSTEM.

Original application filed September 8, 1922, Seriai No. 586,842. Divided and this application filed August 18, 1924. Serial No. 782,796.

Our invention relates to radio telephone s stems and has-for its object the combination of such a system with an electric light,

power, or railway system, so that the wires.

tions, for purposes of observation and supervision of the system. At the radio telephone stations, we provide switching connections from the instruments to the current mains, and through these connections efi'ect current feed to the filament and plate circuits, and under proper conditions bring to the instruments message bearing current generated by electric waves coming through the ether and intercepted by the outside wire network of the light power or railway system as an antenna. ince the generation and radiation of these waves is from the central power station, and since the transmitter as well as the substation instruments are grounded, combined etherand wire transmission of the waves will occur, which is highly advantageous for our purpose, according to which the substation instruments are intended for local use only, and are, so far as possible,

focused on the one local transmitting station. This central station is provided with amplifying and modulating apparatus for original matter, and with relaying apparatus for dis tributing to the subscribers or local consumers programmes and other matters received from a distance. By thus organizing the system so that the subscribers are dependent solely on their local central station for all radio communication, it is possible to unify the service in all respects, and to make service charges on a fair and accurate basis. It 1s to be understood that the principles herein set forth are not limited as to their embodiment to lighting, power or railway circuits as such, but that any conductor or .wire circuit capable ofcarrying and supplying the necessary current and performing the functions described herein, may be used in the present invention. Among such conductors are telegraph lines, trolley wires, feed wires and cable of lighting, power and railway systems, third rails and underground trolley conductors, and fence and tree wires used by ranchers, lumber interests and others in sparsely settled districts. It is to be further understood that we do'not claim herein any specific switching on signalling system, as such systems are well known in the telephone art and can be adapted to perform the functions we have indicated herein by any one skilled in the art, after reading this specification.

Our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which is a typical diagram showing a radio telephone system combined with an electric lighting system.

Referring to the drawing, this shows an electric lighting system with a central power station C, five transformer substations, C,

C C C C consumers mains M fed substations, one pair or more accompanying each feeder cable in the ducts. At each substation a small switchboard Sw is provided, equipped with an automatic selective switch 36, 38, 40 or 42, having a switch arm or wipers connected to the incoming line 35. 37 39, or 41, and contacts over which the wi ers are stepped in operation, to connect wit local lines to consumers radio telephone stations. Thus at substation C the switch 36 has contacts connected to wires 43, 44, which extend from that substation to the radio telephone stations 43, 44. This same substation C carries a feeder main M to a second transformer station C and the accompanying communication wire 45 extends to a switch 46 at said substation, from which wires 47, 48 extend to radio telephone sta tions 47*, 48. This subdivision of the sys tem requires an extra digit in the number transmitted from the central station C, the switches 34, 36, and 46 corresponding to first and second selectors and connectors in an automatic telephone system. No detail of the switching circuits or the operating mechanism of the automatic switches is given herein, as such circuits and switches are well known, and of themselves form no part of thepresent invention, the main features of which as regards the communication circuits, lies in the ability of the central office operator to automatically connect himself to any part of the system through the minimum number of wires, comprising in this case a single air from the central station to each substation, and single pairs diverging therefrom to the further subdivisions of the system. The last link in any of these circuits is the individual drop wire, extending from a terminal box to the building in which current is to be used. These drop wires are relatively short, and we contemplate employing them for a double purpose, viz, for communication by phone or otherwise over the wires, and as antennae for the radio telephone instruments, where found expedient or desirable. This will be described hereinafter.

Transformers K are the substation transformers, and transformers K are the house or pole transformers feeding the consumption circuit M from the house mains M. The consumption circuits M carry translating devices such as lamps L, and also supply current to the radio telephone receivers RR, to be presently described. These radio telephones are all standardized and of uniform design and construction, and are calibrated and locked when installed, so as to receive on common wave length only, i.e., the wave length alloted to the broadcasting transmitter RT at the central station C. This transmitter may be located at some other point than the central power generating station, and in that case, the switchboard S'w will obviously be located at the same point, and distribution of the communication circults effected therefrom. Since the local radio telephone receivers RR are all uniform and fixed as to their tuning, any tuning required must be on the art of the transmitting operator at switch oard Sw, who

is able to listen in and observe the operation of the outlying receiving instruments.

For supervision of the quality of reception, testing, etc., of a subscribers radio receiver, and controlling the quality of reception, the operator, at the central station C make use of the telephone connections to be established through the automatic switching means and circuit connections indicated in Fig. 1 at 32, 34, 35, 36, and 4344. For example, if the receiving set at sub-station 48* is to be connected with, the operator at one central station first operates his dial 32 to step the switch 34 around into connection with line 35 leading to sub-central C, then dials again to extend the connection throu h switch 36 to line 45 leading to sub-central and again operates his dial 32 to step the switch 46 around into connection with line 48, the individual drop line to switch 48. Through the connection thus established the central station operator is enabled to listen in on the audio reproduction of the subscribers receiver, which observation will enable him to determine what faults are present and the necessary remedies to be applied.

We claim:

1; In a combined electric power distribution and radio telephone system, a central station, distributing circuits carrying current therefrom to points of consumption, radio telephone instruments at. said points of consumption, means for connecting said instruments to said distributing circuits for current supply, and a system of telephone intercommunication circuits extending from said central station to said radio telephone instruments with switching means therefor selectively controlled from said central station.

2. In a combined electric power distribution and radio telephone system, a central station, distributing circuits carrying current therefrom to points of consumption, radio telephone instruments at said points of consumption, means for connecting said instruments to said distributing circuits for current supply, and a system-of telephone intercommunication circuits extending from said central station to said radio telephone instruments with switching means therefor selectively controlled from said central station.

3. In a combined electric power distribution and radio telephone system, a central station, distributing circuits carrying current. therefrom to points of consumption, a plurality of standard radio telephone instruments all tuned to the same wave length located at said points of consumption, means for connecting said instruments to said distributing circuits for current supply, a system of communicating circuits related to said distributing circuits in their subdivi sion, and extending from a central point to said radio telephone instruments, a radio an instrument at any desired point on the broadcast transmitter at said central stasystem. tion arranged to transmit on the wave length In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix 10 to which said standard instruments are our signatures.

5 tuned, and means associated therewith to selectively switch said communicating cir- JAMES B. HOGE. cuits so as to connect said central point with EDWARD E. CLEMENT. 

